Variation in the Impact of New York on Pause on Traffic Congestion by Racialized Economic Segregation and Environmental Burden.

During the 2019 coronavirus pandemic, stay-at-home policies such as New York's (NY) NY on Pause dramatically reduced traffic congestion. Despite high traffic burden in NY's environmental justice communities, this reduction has not been evaluated through an environmental justice lens-our objective in this analysis. We obtained census tract-level traffic congestion data from Google traffic maps hourly for 2018-2020.

Methods for Quantifying Source-Specific Air Pollution Exposure to Serve Epidemiology, Risk Assessment, and Environmental Justice.

Identifying sources of air pollution exposure is crucial for addressing their health impacts and associated inequities. Researchers have developed modeling approaches to resolve source-specific exposure for application in exposure assessments, epidemiology, risk assessments, and environmental justice. We explore six source-specific air pollution exposure assessment approaches: Photochemical Grid Models (PGMs), Data-Driven Statistical Models, Dispersion Models, Reduced Complexity chemical transport Models (RCMs), Receptor Models, and Proximity Exposure Estimation Models.

Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s.

Background: Between 52-86% of people who menstruate in the United States use tampons-cotton and/or rayon/viscose 'plugs'-to absorb menstrual blood in the vagina. Tampons may contain metals from agricultural or manufacturing processes, which could be absorbed by the vagina's highly absorptive tissue, resulting in systemic exposure. To our knowledge, no previous studies have measured metals in tampons.

Can traffic-related air pollution trigger myocardial infarction within a few hours of exposure? Identifying hourly hazard periods.

Introduction: Traffic-related air pollution can trigger myocardial infarction (MI). However, the hourly hazard period of exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO), a common traffic tracer, for incident MI has not been fully evaluated. Thus, the current hourly US national air quality standard (100 ppb) is based on limited hourly-level effect estimates, which may not adequately protect cardiovascular health.

Quantifying diurnal changes in NO due to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders in New York City.

Introduction: Policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the NY on Pause stay-at-home order (March 22 - June 8, 2020), substantially reduced traffic and traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) in New York City (NYC). We evaluated the magnitude of TRAP decreases and examined the role of modifying factors such as weekend/weekday, road proximity, location, and time-of-day.

Methods: Hourly nitrogen dioxide (NO) concentrations from January 1, 2018 through June 8, 2020 were obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality System for all six hourly monitors in the NYC area.

The Mediating Effect of E-Cigarette Harm Perception in the Relationship between E-Cigarette Advertising Exposure and E-Cigarette Use.

Exposure to e-cigarette advertising is associated with e-cigarette use among young people. This study examined the mediating effect of e-cigarette harm perception on the above relationship. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 2112 college students in New York City in 2017-2018.

Methods for Evaluating Environmental Health Impacts at Different Stages of the Policy Process in Cities.

Purpose Of Review: Evaluating the environmental health impacts of urban policies is critical for developing and implementing policies that lead to more healthy and equitable cities. This article aims to (1) identify research questions commonly used when evaluating the health impacts of urban policies at different stages of the policy process, (2) describe commonly used methods, and (3) discuss challenges, opportunities, and future directions.

Recent Findings: In the diagnosis and design stages of the policy process, research questions aim to characterize environmental problems affecting human health and to estimate the potential impacts of new policies.

Air Pollution in American Indian Versus Non-American Indian Communities, 2000-2018.

To compare fine particulate matter (PM) concentrations in American Indian (AI)-populated with those in non-AI-populated counties over time (2000-2018) in the contiguous United States. We used a multicriteria approach to classify counties as AI- or non--AI-populated. We ran linear mixed effects models to estimate the difference in countywide annual PM concentrations from well-validated prediction models and monitoring sites (modeled and measured PM, respectively) in AI- versus non-AI-populated counties.

Menstrual Products as a Source of Environmental Chemical Exposure: A Review from the Epidemiologic Perspective.

Purpose Of Review: Menstrual bleeding is a regular, common occurrence in a substantial portion of the population. Menstruators may use more than 10,000 menstrual products over the lifetime. Given the potential for environmental chemicals in menstrual products to be absorbed by the vulvar and vaginal epithelium into systemic circulation, we reviewed the available data on menstrual products as a source of environmental chemical exposure.

An Epidemiologic Review of Menstrual Blood Loss as an Excretion Route for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.

Purpose Of Review: Menstrual blood loss, a common physiologic occurrence, provides an excretion route for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) since these chemicals are bound to proteins in blood. To increase awareness of this relationship in environmental epidemiology, we reviewed the available epidemiologic data on menstrual bleeding and PFAS concentrations.

Recent Findings: Initial epidemiologic studies reported generally higher PFAS concentrations in men, menopausal women, and those with a history of hysterectomy compared to premenopausal women.

Supragingival microbiome alternations as a consequence of smoking different tobacco types and its relation to dental caries.

This study aimed to assess the effect of smoking different tobacco types on the supragingival microbiome and its relation to dental caries. Forty supragingival plaque samples were collected from smokers of a single tobacco type and non-smokers seeking treatment at the University Dental Hospital Sharjah, UAE. DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) was determined for all participants who were divided into two groups: no-low caries (NC-LC: DMFT = 0-4; n = 18) and moderate-high caries (MC-HC: DMFT = 5-20; n = 22).

Social-distancing fatigue: Evidence from real-time crowd-sourced traffic data.

Introduction: To mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent overwhelming the healthcare system, social-distancing policies such as school closure, stay-at-home orders, and indoor dining closure have been utilized worldwide. These policies function by reducing the rate of close contact within populations and result in decreased human mobility. Adherence to social distancing can substantially reduce disease spread.

Benzene emissions from gas station clusters: a new framework for estimating lifetime cancer risk.

Purpose: During gas station operation, unburned fuel can be released to the environment through distribution, delivery, and storage. Due to the toxicity of fuel compounds, setback distances have been implemented to protect the general population. However, these distances treat gasoline sales volume as a categorical variable and only account for the presence of a single gas station and not clusters, which frequently occur.

Effects of electronic cigarettes and hookah (waterpipe) use on home air quality.

Introduction: A major site of secondhand smoke exposure for children and adults is the home. Few studies have evaluated the impact of e-cigarette or hookah use on home air quality, despite evidence finding toxic chemicals in secondhand e-cigarette aerosols and hookah smoke. We assessed the effect of e-cigarette and hookah use on home air quality and compared it with air quality in homes where cigarettes were smoked and where no smoking or e-cigarette use occurred.

Social-distancing Fatigue: Evidence from Real-time Crowd-sourced Traffic Data.

Introduction: To mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent overwhelming the healthcare system, social-distancing policies such as school closure, stay-at-home orders, and indoor dining closure have been utilized worldwide. These policies function by reducing the rate of close contact within populations and results in decreased human mobility. Adherence to social distancing can substantially reduce disease spread.

The impact of smoking different tobacco types on the subgingival microbiome and periodontal health: a pilot study.

Smoking is a risk factor for periodontal disease, and a cause of oral microbiome dysbiosis. While this has been evaluated for traditional cigarette smoking, there is limited research on the effect of other tobacco types on the oral microbiome. This study investigates subgingival microbiome composition in smokers of different tobacco types and their effect on periodontal health.

Hookah use patterns, social influence and associated other substance use among a sample of New York City public university students.

Background: Most hookah use studies have not included racial and ethnic minorities which limits our understanding of its use among these growing populations. This study aimed to investigate the individual characteristics of hookah use patterns and associated risk behaviors among an ethnically diverse sample of college students.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 2460 students (aged 18-25) was conducted in 2015, and data was analyzed in 2017.

Opening a Large Delivery Service Warehouse in the South Bronx: Impacts on Traffic, Air Pollution, and Noise.

Mott Haven, a low-income neighborhood in New York City, suffers from increased air pollution and accommodates several industrial facilities and interstates. In 2018, a large delivery service warehouse opened. Our objectives are to characterize black carbon (BC), fine particulate matter (PM), and noise in the community; model changes in traffic due to the facility opening; and estimate associated BC and noise changes.

Gasoline Vapor Emissions During Vehicle Refueling Events in a Vehicle Fleet Saturated With Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery Systems: Need for an Exposure Assessment.

Gasoline contains large proportions of harmful chemicals, which can be released during vehicle refueling. Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) can reduce these emissions, but there is limited research on the system's efficacy over time in an actual vehicle fleet. The aims of this study are: (1) determine the feasibility of using an infrared camera to view vapor emissions from refueling; (2) examine the magnitude of refueling-related emissions in an ORVR-saturated fleet, to determine need for an exposure-assessment.

Effects of exposure to direct and secondhand hookah and e-cigarette aerosols on ambient air quality and cardiopulmonary health in adults and children: protocol for a panel study.

Introduction: Use of alternative nicotine delivery systems, such as electronic cigarettes and hookahs, has increased dramatically in the USA, but limited research has been conducted on the secondhand effects of these products, especially in children. The objective of this study is to assess the cardiopulmonary effects of e-cigarette and hookah use in vaping and smoking adults, and in non-smoking/non-vaping adults and children exposed to secondhand particles and gases.

Methods And Analysis: This study uses a pre/post design, with four groups: two control groups (non-smoking/non-vaping and cigarette smoking) and two test groups (hookah smoking and e-cigarette vaping).

Single-Patient Expanded Access Requests: IRB Professionals' Experiences and Perspectives.

Background: U.S. physicians may treat a patient with an investigational drug outside of a clinical trial by using the expanded access (EA) pathway or the recently created federal right to try (RTT) pathway.